The Siege
(1998)

THE SIEGE is slow-going. Nifty premise, but it's botched by an
overcomplicated script. The result is an overload of information
that's neither affecting nor even that thought-provoking. (Mes-
sage to the filmmakers: Keep It Simple, Stupid.) Denzel Washing-
ton is his usual dramatically intense self, while Annette Bening
adds some spunk as a slutty CIA spy/agent/covert-something. As
the Army General who leads the title event, Bruce Willis is...
Bruce Willis. (His character seems to have stepped out of anoth-
er, more testosterone-rich flick.) Eh, the pyrotechnics are good,
the stock situations comfortable, and dem are real APCs rumbling
through the streets of Brooklyn. Some of the smaller details are
priceless: a city bus backfires and everybody takes cover; a ter-
rorist is interrupted at a school because "one of the moms was
carrying a gun." Too bad the script presumes familiarity with all
matters Constitutional. I was left with a million questions, the
least of which was: can't the Army do whatever the Hell it wants
while enforcing martial law? Including torturing prisoners??
With a good turn from Tony Shaloub. Edward Zwick (COURAGE UNDER
FIRE, LEGENDS OF THE FALL) directs. (Rated "R"/118 min.)
Grade: C
Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros